Mehdia has been labeled “City of Wetlands” by the Ramsar Convention, marking an important milestone in recognizing the efforts made in conservation, local stakeholder involvement, and balanced management of natural resources, announced on Wednesday the Director General of the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF), Abderrahim Houmy.
After Ifrane in 2022, Mehdia becomes the second Moroccan city to receive this prestigious label, Mr. Houmy indicated during a meeting held in Salé under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” initiated by the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
This distinction is part of the national strategy “Forests of Morocco 2020-2030,” which aims to protect wetlands and strengthen their resilience against increasing pressures, particularly climate change and urbanization, Mr. Houmy added.
He also highlighted the essential role of wetlands in water security, natural disaster regulation, and biodiversity preservation, emphasizing that 38 Moroccan sites are now listed as wetlands of international importance, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to these vital ecosystems.
For his part, the Director for Europe and North Africa at WWF International, Ajay Barai, emphasized the importance of a strong partnership and a common vision between ANEF and WWF to address environmental and climate challenges in Morocco.
Recalling the fund’s commitment across 100 countries, he indicated that WWF aims to strengthen its presence in the Kingdom by opening an office, mobilizing local experts and international resources. This ambition aims to amplify field projects and support public policies for a sustainable impact benefiting biodiversity and local communities, he said.
“By relying on inclusive approaches, WWF is committed to supporting conservation efforts in Morocco, aligned with the global goals of the Paris Agreement and the Global Biodiversity Framework,” Mr. Barai continued.
The Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Morocco, Quiterie Pincent, focused on the historic partnership of over 20 years between her Agency and ANEF, which embodies an “exemplary and multidimensional collaboration,” particularly in biodiversity conservation, sustainable ecosystem management, and local stakeholder involvement.
She praised the implementation of structuring programs such as the “Forests of Morocco 2020-2030” strategy and notable initiatives including the promotion of female forestry cooperatives and reforestation. These projects reflect a common ambition to support harmonious development with nature, she continued.
The AFD director also deemed international dialogue and cooperation important to address environmental challenges, expressing the Agency’s commitment to accompany ANEF in its future actions.
On the sidelines of this day, several partnership agreements were signed to preserve and enhance the wetlands of the Kingdom.
These include an agreement between ANEF and WWF to strengthen wetland conservation and implement the Global Biodiversity Framework at the national level, a partnership with the Moroccan Federation of Ecological Fishing to promote sustainable wetland management through recreational fishing, in addition to a convention with the Society for the Protection of Animals and Nature in Morocco (SPANA) and the Chabab Sidi Boughaba Cooperative for the ecological restoration of Lake Sidi Boughaba.